WIRSCH, Elfie Louise (nee MacLAINE)

Elfie Louise Wirsch of Calgary ascended to heaven from the Boyne Lodge in Carmen, Manitoba on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the age of 98 years.

Elfie was born in Lethbridge on May 13, 1913 to Elfie Goldie and Warren Bolton MacLaine. She graduated from Lethbridge Collegiate. Having a fascination for pen and pencil sketching and water colors, she entered landscapes and animal pictures into the Lethbridge Exhibition winning a number of first prizes. Every year she prepared her horses for the Lethbridge Fair anticipating the excitement of winning a prize ribbon. She bought two horses from the RCMP and a yearling from Spud Murphy who owned some race horses. Later she bought Nancy Dillion from Mr. Coleman, and applied for the old P.L. Naysmith brand, N Quarter circle. The last year she was home Elfie raised 500 Southhampton chickens, selling their eggs.

In 1943 Elfie moved to Calgary, and for five years was a pastry chef for the White Lunch Café. In the spring of 1945 she met Eddie John Wirsch, whom she married at the end of the war on September 14, 1946, becoming mother of three children.

For several years she served as a Sunday School teacher, started a Woman’s Auxiliary (ACW) group in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and served on Home and School Committees. For seventeen years she was the Little Helpers’ secretary at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Calgary. She was a life member of the (ACW) and since 1959, has been an active member of The Order of Eastern Star.

Elfie leaves two children, Dr. Margaret Haynes and Lane (Gail), two grandchildren Kylie and Dustin, a sister-in-law LaVerne MacLaine of Qualicum, BC; three nieces Luella, Laurie, Marcia; and two nephews Chickie, and Roddy. She was predeceased by four sisters Leah, Scis, Clarissa and Patricia, and two brothers Lolly and Jack, and baby Glen Arthur.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church (903 – 75th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB) on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com.